Bag-clasp.



S.-RAl NS.

BAG CLASP;

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29. 1915.

1,177,446. Patented 'Ma1n'28, 1916;

THE COLUMBIA PLAIjOGRAPH 50., WASHINGHLN. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnion.

SALLO RAINS, on NEW. YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO FANNY name, or nnw zon'x,N. Y.

BAG-CLASP.

- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Flat. 28, 1916.

Application filed March 29, 1915. Serial No. 17,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SALLO Rams, a citizen of the United States, andaresident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Clasps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to clasps for bags and. it is especially usefulwhen applied to only be released when the parts are operated in adifferent direction.

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1.is anelevation of an ordinary hand bag to which my invention is applied, Fig.2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a planview of a portion of the bag and the clasp, partly broken away, Fig. 4is a sectional view of the bag frame in open position, and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the catch member.

I have shown my invention applied to an ordinary hand bag having theform of frame now in general use. The bag comprises the bag orreceptacle portion 1, secured to the frame 2. The latter consists of themembers 3, 4:, which it is to be understood are hinged together in theusual manner. The frame members 3, 4, are here shown as made from metalof U shape in cross section, with the parallel downward webs. 6, 7 andthetop and connecting web 8. The frame member 3 has an upwardlyextending fixed finger piece 9 by which this frame member may begrasped. This frame member also has an aperture 10 in its web 7, toreceive the end of the catch.

The frame member 4 has arranged in the space between the webs 6, 7, apost 11, which is held in the web 8, and in a cross piece 12 arrangedbetween the webs 6, 7. There is a coiled spring 13 surrounding the post11, and lying in the space within the frame membert. This spring pressesupwardly on the catch member 14:, which latter extends through the slots15 and 16 in the webs 6 and 7. The catch member is guided by the post11, which passes'through an aperture,-17, therein and it is adapted tomove up and down in the slots 15, 16. The catch member has an end 18which projects to one side of the frame member 1 suiticiently to enterthe slot 10 in the web 7 of the opposite frame member when the framemembers are closed, as shown in Fig. 2. There is a shoulder 19-on thecatchmemher, which engages behind the web 7 when the frame is closed, asshown in Fig. 2, and the catch is held in this engaged position by thespring l3.

In order-to separate the'frame members the catch 14 must be moveddownwardly on the post 11 in opposition to the spring 13, and in orderto provide for this I have arranged a finger piece 20 exterior of thebag and connected with the outer end of the catch member by a rockingconnection, such as the hinge 21.

The exterior appearance of the device would lead one not familiar with.its construction to believe that the bag is to be opened by graspingthe finger piece 9 in one hand and the finger piece 20 in the other andby pulling them both apart laterally of the bag frame. Bags of thischaracter having finger pieces are usually opened in this manner andthere is nothing in the exterior appearance of the present device toindicate that it cannot thus be operated. But, as is apparent. simplydrawing the finger pieces apart will not release the catch.

In order to release the catch it is necessary to pull downwardly on thefinger piece 20, an operation which is in no way indicated by theappearance of the parts. \Vhen the tinger piece 20 is thus pulleddownwardly it draws downthe catch member 14 on'the post 11 and inopposition to the spring 13 until the shoulder 19 disengages from theweb 7, whereupon the frame members may be swung open. The purpose,therefore, of having the. finger piece 20 movably connected with thecatch member is to indicate an operation difierent from that necessarycatch member so plane, the catch to open the bag, so that one notfamiliar with the device will have-some difficulty in operating it. v

Having described my invention, what I claim is: V

1. A device of the class described comprising bag frame members, guidingmeans on one frame member, a catch member slidable vertically on saidguiding means, said catch member being adapted to engage the other ofsaid frame members and to be released therefrom by a downward movementof the catch member'on its guiding means, and an exterior finger piecehinged to said as to swing in a vertical member being operated bydownward movementof said finger piece to release said frame members.

2. A device of the classdescribed, comprising bag" frame members, a postsecured to one frame member, a coiled spring surrounding said post, acatch member slidable on said postand engaged by said spring, said catchmember being adapted to engage the other of said frame members and to beCopies of this'patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingtliewcommissioner of Patents; t

released therefrom by a downward EIIIOVG! ment of the catch member onsaid post, and i. an. exterior finger piece hlngedv to the catch a meanson one projecting portion to engage and hold theopposite frame memberand adapted to be released therefrom by'jd'ownward movement of the catch"member, afiH -Q ger piece attached to the other end, of the catchmember and adapted to swing-thereon ina vertical plane, and a fingerpieceon'th'e other of said framemembers.

Signed at the city, county .and- State of EW York, this 26th day ofMarch, 1915.?

SALLO Ram's;

,Witnesses CHAnLnsG. HnNsnEY, MANFRED INATHAN.

Washington, D. C.

